The Research Training Scheme (RTS) for Research Higher Degrees

Frequently Asked Questions

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General Questions
More Technical Questions - HECS Exemptions Scholarships
Further information

General Questions

1. What is an RTS place?

The Commonwealth government offered RTS (Research Training Scheme) places from 1 September 2000. RTS places provide research higher degree students with an exemption from course fees (liability under the Higher Education Contribution Scheme (HECS)).

RTS places replace the HECS Exemption Scholarships that used to be available to research higher degree students. See questions 9-13 for more information about HECS Exemptions Scholarships.

An objective of the RTS is to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of research training. In order to achieve this, the University needs to more carefully monitor research higher degree completions.

2. Who is eligible for an RTS place?

To be eligible for an RTS place students must be an Australian citizen, Australian permanent resident or New Zealand citizen and enrolled in a research higher degree course on a full-time or part-time basis. The RTS applies to all students who commenced a research higher degree after 31 August 2000. Students undertaking a higher doctorate, bachelor (honours) or postgraduate coursework degree are not eligible for an RTS place.

3. How long do I have to complete?

RTS places provides an exemption from HECS liability for the student, and funds to the University, for a maximum of:

• 4 years full-time (8 years part time) for doctoral research (including PhD) students;
• 2 years full time (4 years part time) for Masters by research students.

4. Can I take leave?

Under the RTS, Universities may grant students on an RTS place Leave of Absence (LOA) of up to 12 months. LOA may be granted if sickness or any other reasons prevents the candidate from undertaking their research. Additional LOA is only possible in exceptional circumstances.

Note that LOA does not apply to:

• Study away from the University. Leave to study away from the university, either overseas or elsewhere in Australia, is separate to LOA provisions as students on approved leave to study away remain enrolled;
• Annual/recreation leave. Research higher degree students may negotiate up to 4 weeks per annum annual/recreation leave with their supervisor/s. Students do not need to apply to the SGS or their faculty for LOA to cover any periods of annual/recreation leave they might take. Annual/recreation leave is not, therefore, recorded on Merlin (the University's student database).

5. What if I don't finish on time?

Under the RTS, students who do not complete their degrees within the required time limits are no longer eligible for an RTS place and if they remain enrolled must be transferred to a "fee-based place". Universities may charge course fees for students who have exhausted their entitlement under the RTS. The University of Melbourne's policy for these students is to require that students must pay fees equivalent to the full HECS liable rate for their discipline.

Students who don't finish their studies within the time provided by an RTS place may wish to consider lapsing their candidature. This is only viable if the student no longer needs to use university facilities or to seek advice from their supervisor/s.

6. What if I wish to convert from a Masters by research to a PhD or vice versa?

Masters by research students who convert to a research doctorate will have their Masters candidature deducted from the maximum of 4 years (full-time) an RTS place provides research doctorate students (or pro rata for part time).

Doctorates by research students who convert to a Masters by research will have their PhD candidature deducted from the maximum of 2 years (full-time) a RTS place provides to full-time Masters students. If the student has already held an RTS place for more than 2 years at the time of converting from the PhD to the Masters, they will not be entitled to hold a RTS place.

7. I discontinued my RHD course. Am I eligible for an RTS place if I re-enrol to complete my degree?

Students who have discontinued their course will be eligible for consideration for a RTS place if they re-enrol in a RHD course at a later date. Students who resume their studies within three years will have the period of their prior enrolment deducted from their maximum entitlement under the RTS.

8. I have an RTS Place elsewhere. Can I transfer?

Students who hold an RTS place at another institution can apply to transfer their enrolment (but not their RTS place) to the University of Melbourne. If the transfer is approved, they would normally be allocated an RTS place or its equivalent, if a place is available.

If the transfer is approved, the length of candidature at the previous institutions(s) will be deducted from the maximum RTS entitlement offered at the University of Melbourne. Transferring students are required to provide a signed statement about their enrolment and consumption of RTS so that their remaining entitlement can be determined.

The period of entitlement remains unchanged even if the student is changing their course (eg from one Masters degree to another).

The University of Melbourne does not usually approve transfers if the student is within 12 months of completing a research doctorate course at the other institution.

More Technical Questions - HECS Exemptions Scholarships

9. What are HECS Exemption Scholarships?

Before the introduction of RTS places on September 1 2000, each year the University received from DEST (Department of Education, Science & Training) a number of HECS Exemption Scholarships to award to students undertaking a research higher degree.

HECS Exemption Scholarships have not been offered since September 1 2000.

10. What happens to students offered a HECS Exemption Scholarship before 1 September 2000?

Students who held a HECS Exemption Scholarship immediately before September 1 2000 (ie at the Semester 2 2000 HECS Census Date of 31/8/00) will continue to hold the HECS Exemption Scholarship until they complete their RHD course or the time limits that apply to these scholarships are reached.

11. How long can a student hold a HECS Exemption Scholarship?

The time limits are:

• 5 years full-time (or equivalent part-time) for research doctorate students;
• 3 years full-time (or equivalent part-time) for Masters by research students.

12. What happens if a student holding a HECS Exemption Scholarship immediately before September 1 2000 converts from a Masters to a PhD or vice versa?

The student will be entitled to continue to hold the HECS Exemption Scholarship. Prior periods of candidature will, however, be deducted from the maximum entitlement.

13. What happens if a student who held a HECS Exemption Scholarship immediately before September 1 2000 discontinued or completed their RHD course and now wish to re-enrol in a RHD course?

The new RTS arrangements will apply to these students ie the HECS Exemption Scholarship will not be reinstated.

Further information

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For information on the implications of the RTS on changing courses, withdrawing from your course or transferring to another institution refer to the DEST website at http://www.dest.gov.au/highered/research/rts.htm.